diff --git a/app/models/miq_worker.rb b/app/models/miq_worker.rb
index c0241688fc7..aafc2386248 100644
--- a/app/models/miq_worker.rb
+++ b/app/models/miq_worker.rb
@@ -343,11 +343,11 @@ def queue_name
   end
 
   def start_runner
-    if ENV['MIQ_SPAWN_WORKERS'] || !Process.respond_to?(:fork)
-      start_runner_via_spawn
-    else
-      start_runner_via_fork
-    end
+    spawn_worker? ? start_runner_via_spawn : start_runner_via_fork
+  end
+
+  def spawn_worker?
+    ENV['MIQ_SPAWN_WORKERS'] || !Process.respond_to?(:fork) || worker_settings[:spawn_worker]
   end
 
   def start_runner_via_fork
diff --git a/config/settings.yml b/config/settings.yml
index f34f14fa5fe..dcdd7da9d81 100644
--- a/config/settings.yml
+++ b/config/settings.yml
@@ -1083,6 +1083,7 @@
       :poll_escalate_max: 30.seconds
       :poll_method: :normal
       :restart_interval: 0.hours
+      :spawn_worker: false
       :starting_timeout: 10.minutes
       :stopping_timeout: 10.minutes
     :embedded_ansible_worker:
@@ -1227,6 +1228,7 @@
       :nice_delta: 3
       :poll: 1.seconds
       :reconnect_retry_interval: 5.minutes
+      :spawn_worker: true
       :vim_broker_status_interval: 15.minutes
       :vim_broker_update_interval: 0.seconds
       :vim_broker_max_wait: 60